Alternative locking arrangements for tubular connections

Abstract

There is provided a system for preventing the movement of a clamping member, the system comprising a clamping member in moveable association with a first member, and at least one locking member moveably associated with said first member and said clamping member, wherein when said clamping member is moved towards the longitudinal axis of said first member, said at least one locking member is moveable towards the clamping member in order to prevent said clamping member from moving away from said longitudinal axis to its initial position.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A system for preventing the movement of a clamping member, the system comprising:
 a first member having fixed to it a connector frame, said connector frame comprising a reaction plate and at least one locking frame; 
 said first member comprising a clamping member, said first member having a longitudinal axis and wherein said clamping member is moveable towards and away from said axis; 
 said connector frame being arranged to removably accept a tool with pressure inducing means positionable between the reaction plate and the clamping member; 
 at least one locking member each supported via said at least one locking frame on said first member and each being contactable with said clamping member; 
 the locking frame being arranged such that each of the at least one locking members is offset from the pressure inducing means of the tool when the tool is in position between the reaction plate and the clamping member; 
 wherein each of said at least one locking member is moveable towards the clamping member in order to prevent said clamping member from moving away from said longitudinal axis to its initial position. 
 
     
     
       2. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member is moveable towards the clamping member after the clamping member has been moved towards the longitudinal axis of the first member. 
     
     
       3. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member is a pair of locking members. 
     
     
       4. The system of  claim 3 , wherein said pair of locking members are positioned in the same, or substantially the same, plane perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member, or wherein said pair of locking members are positioned in the same, or substantially the same, plane parallel to the longitudinal axis along the first member. 
     
     
       5. The system of  claim 3 , wherein said pair of locking members are positioned so that their longitudinal axes intersect substantially along the longitudinal axis of the first member. 
     
     
       6. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member is orientated orthogonally to the longitudinal axis of the first member. 
     
     
       7. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member comprises a tail portion that is contactable with said clamping member and a head portion that is accessible from outside of the first member, preferably wherein the tail portion of the at least one locking member has a convex/concave profile, wherein said tail portion interacts with a complementary concave/convex profiled part, respectively, of the clamping member in order to accommodate misalignment between the locking member and the clamping member. 
     
     
       8. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member comprises a plurality of parts, wherein said plurality of parts are integral with each other, or are in moveable association with each other to allow the locking member to articulate. 
     
     
       9. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member comprises at least a portion that is threaded, said threaded portion corresponding to a complementary threaded portion on said at least one locking frame and/or on said first member, optionally wherein at least the threaded portion of the locking member is made from a corrosion resistant material, and optionally wherein the locking frame comprises a removable threaded boss, preferably wherein said boss is made from a corrosion resistant material. 
     
     
       10. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking frame comprises at least one sleeve, each of said at least one sleeves surrounding at least a substantial part of the length of each of said at least one locking members. 
     
     
       11. The system  claim 1 , wherein said at least one locking member is substantially fully threaded along its length, wherein said at least one locking frame comprises a threaded section extending for at least most, preferably all, of the length of the locking member when said locking member is positioned in the frame prior to the movement of the clamping member towards the longitudinal axis of the first member. 
     
     
       12. The system of  claim 1 , wherein adjacent to the head portion of said at least one locking member is a graduated marker or scale to allow visual reference to the amount of axial movement of said locking member and/or a reference line or mark on a locking member and locking frame to allow the amount of rotation of the locking member to be determined and thereby the amount of axial movement. 
     
     
       13. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said first member further comprises a collar, and wherein said clamping member extends through said collar, optionally wherein said clamping member is formed from at least a part of said collar, and optionally wherein the collar or clamping member further comprises an arrangement of spacer plates to prevent any significant movement of the clamping member other than in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the first member. 
     
     
       14. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said system further comprises a second member, wherein said second member is placed within said first member and wherein said clamping member exerts force on said second member when said clamping member is moved towards the longitudinal axis of said first member. 
     
     
       15. The system of  claim 1 , wherein said clamping member is connected to at least one thrust rod, preferably wherein each of the at least one locking member is offset from the longitudinal axis of the at least one thrust rod. 
     
     
       16. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one thrust rod is one thrust rod, and wherein said system comprises a pair of locking members, said locking members being positioned so that their longitudinal axes intersect substantially along the longitudinal axis of the thrust rod. 
     
     
       17. The system of  claim 15 , wherein the at least one thrust rod is two thrust rods, and wherein the system comprises two thrust rods and one locking member. 
     
     
       18. The system of  claim 15 , wherein said thrust rod, or a cap plate that is affixed to the thrust rod, comprises a sloping face that interfaces with a complementary sloping face on a pressure inducing member. 
     
     
       19. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the connector frame further comprises an adjustable surface of the Reaction Plate. 
     
     
       20. The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system comprises a second member placed within said first member and each of said at least one locking member comprises means preventing it from passively moving away from the second member in order to prevent loss of the clamping force on the second member.